Gilbert Martines is a
Charlie Chan expert . . . . He has been researching the man that Earl Derr Biggers based his Chinese detective on:
Chang Apana! Gilbert is in the process of pulling together all his work for a new book about Apana!

Chang Apana was really an Indiana Jones type of
hero. Here are some of his exploits as described in my book "Charlie Chan's Hawaii":

"Fred Kramer, retired Captain
of the Guards at Oahu Prison and Halawa Jail, had some interesting reminiscences about Chang Apana. Kramer actually saw Apana
in action leaping from roof to roof in Chinatown, like a human fly. In appearance, Kramer recalls, 'Apana looked so frail
that one slap could break him apart.' "

"Apana, though fragile in appearance, was in reality a very tough man. Once
while attempting to raid a gambling game, he was hurled from a second story window, but like the proverbial cat, he landed
miraculously, on his feet unhurt. Another time when arresting a dangerous Filipino suspect, he was slashed across the stomach
with a knife. Again he emerged unscathed as the knife landed on a broad belt that he was wearing."

"Apana had another
close brush with death during the arrest of a prison escapee. He was assigned with Chief of Detectives Arthur McDuffie, and
Assistant Chief John Kellett to capture a Korean, who had broken out of jail, and who was known to be a desperate character
when cornered.

They finally located their quarry, hiding under a house. When he was ordered to come out he replied
with a fusillade of shots, one of the shots boring the palm of Kellett's hand. More shots followed that narrowly missed hitting
McDuffie and Apana. In a lull between the shots exchanged between the escaped felon and the officers, Apana sneaked around
the end of the house, while the other two officers held the fugitive at bay. In the twinkling of an eye, Apana pounced on
the prisoner. He was in the midst of life and death struggle when the other two officers came to his rescue. At the end of
this ordeal, Apana was in such bad shape, that he had to be taken to the hospital for a week to recuperate."